Introduction
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki is a bestseller that contrasts two mindsets
toward wealth creation. The 'Poor Dad, ' Kiyosaki's real father, was educated but lacked
the street-smarts and the right mindset for wealth creation. His 'Rich Dad, ' Kiyosaki's best
friend's father, had very little formal education but abundant street-smarts and the correct
mindset to innovate, lead, manage, and create wealth.
The author begins his book by stating that he was fortunate to have had two fathers.
He learned valuable lessons from both, and compares and contrasts both fathers' views
about working hard, getting an education, saving, and investing, eventually realizing that
the habits of the rich and poor reflect significantly different mindsets. By spending time
in conversation with his Rich Dad, Kiyosaki gained a valuable education and coaching on
how to think like an entrepreneur. In essence, wisdom is everything; we are the sum total
of those we listen to or allow to influence us.
To build, develop, or rewire our thinking, we need a mix of mentors in our lives. For many
years, mentoring was the role of my parents and other extended family members. Then
teachers, employers, and a diverse group of people from all walks of life, each influenced
me in different ways. Although my mentors were not formally trained or had the title of
mentor, they functioned as my guides or wise advisors, covering a broad range of subjects
and disciplines. This continued until I began working with young people who increasingly
looked to me for advice and guidance.
Over the years, mentoring became an art form that I learned the hard way, through
experimentation, trial and error, and the feedback I received-both positive and negative.
Mentoring was not commonly discussed, yet it was the role of most good parents,
teachers, or employers, who regularly imparted their leadership and wisdom to a wide
range of personalities.
Having spent many years involved in business, government, and community activities,
I began to realize an important truth: our success depends on making other people
successful. To build a thriving business or community, as a leader or manager, we
must empower a person's strengths and help sharpen their skills. In building healthy
communities, we must focus on creating strong, connected, self-reliant individuals.
This book is designed to assist a mentor in passing on their wisdom, helping a person
navigate the tough decisions of life, and empowering them to achieve their passions,
goals, and dreams. Mentoring someone is about transferring the wisdom learned in the
school of hard knocks.
The art of peer-to-peer mentoring is an important part of the mentoring and learning
process. In this partnership, both parties grow and are inspired to dig a little deeper and
climb a little higher. If you want to be the best, you need to learn from the best, which
requires seeking out a mentor and having a strategy for engaging them, something that a
mentor may need to facilitate and encourage as an ongoing lifelong habit.
For greater performance on the field of play, we must deal with the whole person, including
who we are off the field. Mentoring is an art form that spans personal and professional
development. This book is designed to equip a mentor (be it a parent, grandparent,
employer, manager, or leader) with coaching, leadership, and teaching skills that draw a
person out, helping them become all that they can be, and avoid the pitfalls that can easily
derail them.
